After 31 hours of being trapped underwater, the Panama Canal Zone rescued Henry Breault and Lawrence Brown on October 29, 1923.

When questioned, Breault told a reporter "He wanted to stay and help if he could," while Brown gave much of the credit to Breault. In a longer letter to his mother, Breault wrote:

"Just a line to let you know that I am still alive. You have no doubt read about the sinking of the submarine. We were down there for hours and had no food. There was water in the lead tanks, but we did not dare to use it because it had been there for months and we were afraid of lead poisoning. I sure was a sick boy but am well now. I have been out helping to raise the submarine. She is all right except the central control room where she was struck. The craft will soon be in condition again. But some of the crew will never go down in a submarine again. Fortunately it did not bother me at all."[1]

Brave words to remember 101 years later!

CIMSEC:

https://cimsec.org/name-a-virginia-class-submarine-for-medal-of-honor-recipient-henry-breault/

Reference

[1]. "Submarine Hero Writes Home," New York Times, November 20, 1923, Newspaper Clipping, Submarine Force Library and Museum.